CALIFORNIA – The California state Senate Judiciary Committee has passed the Gender Nondiscrimination Act (AB 887) in a 3-2 vote. The bill is authored by Assemblymember Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) and is sponsored by Equality California and the Transgender Law Center. If passed, AB 887 will strengthen employment, housing and other civil rights protections for all Californians, especially those who face discrimination based on gender identity and expression.

“AB 887 protects all Californians. No matter your skin color, your age, where you come from or whether you’re gay, straight or transgender; we are all protected by the same rights. This bill ensures that no one is left out,” said Assemblywoman Atkins.

AB 887 takes existing protections based on gender identity and expression and enumerates them as protected categories in non-discrimination laws. In addition, while California non-discrimination laws already define “gender” to include a person’s gender identity and gender expression, the bill clarifies that gender identity and expression are included in the definition of gender and sex in all California codes.

In 2009, the Transgender Law Center released its State of Transgender California report. The report revealed overwhelmingly that Californians who experience discrimination based on gender identity and gender expression at work or elsewhere oftentimes do not file complaints because they are unaware that they are protected by non-discrimination laws.